DEVILS HOPYARD SERIES

My residency at I-Park Foundation was a very fast paced and busy one but I feel despite the loss of 1 1/2 weeks me and my peer group was able to make a good amount of work. Once I was informed about being selected for the May residency I began to do research on the Haddam, CT area trying to see what kind of stories I could find. Much like the dilemma with the 3 Sisters project of not being able to find a substantial original story I contacted the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center and was lead to the book Legendary Connecticut: Traditional Tales from the Nutmeg Stateby David Philips (July 1, 1995), and found the story of Moodus Noises& Devil’s Hopyard about the Devil’s Hopyard Park near the residency. The story I referenced my work on was the story of Dr. Steele, and how he loosened a huge carbuncle form the mouth of Cave Hill.

Loud were the Moodus noises that night. The mountain shook and groans and hisses were heard in the air as he pried up the stone that lay across the pit-mouth. When he had lifted it off a light poured from it and streamed into the heaven like a crimson comet or a spear of the northern aurora. It was the flash of the great carbuncle, and the stars seen through it were as if dyed in blood. In the morning Steele was gone. He had taken ship for England. The gem carried with it an evil fate, for the galley sank in mid-ocean; but, though buried beneath a thousand fathoms of water, the red ray of the carbuncle sometimes shoots up from the sea, and the glow of it strikes fear into the hearts of passing sailors. Long after, when the booming was heard, the Indians said that the hill was giving birth to another beautiful stone. (190-95)

I also created a hood made out of 700 ft. of white nylon rope that was influenced by Haddam, CT being one of the main producers of fishing nets & mother of pearl button in New England during the early 1900’s. These stories, legends, and histories helped feed my work ask I began exploring the tucked away treasure of I-Park lush and extensive grounds and the Devil’s Hopyard & Machimoodus State Parks. WATCH VIDEO HERE